Dislocations. The different varieties of dislocations of the joints were known to Hippocrates nearly as completely as we know them to-day, and the various manipulations necessary for their reduction are fully described.
Cases which resisted reduction by means of ordinary measures, such as extension over the back of a chair or the lower half of a door in the case of the shoulder, were treated by more powerful apparatus, improvised or kept for the purpose.
Bands for extension and counterextension were applied. These consisted preferably of supple leather, but in the absence of these Hippocrates says that iron chains, cords, or the ropes for ships may be used, being wrapped round with woolen cloth at the parts where they are to come in contact with the skin.
In reducing dislocations of the fingers, Hippocrates says that nooses formed from the twisted bast of palm shoots are suitable. Aristotle refers to these in his book on the Parts of Animals.
The power to be applied was obtained by means of winches or drums on axles, levers, wedges, screws and pulleys.
Fig. 12. The scamnum in use for Dislocation at the astragalus.
Fig. 13. Reduction of a Gibbosity of the spine by the scamnum.